Insulation



C. D. COPE Jan. 12', 1943.

INSULATION VFiled Maron 2o, y1939 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 "UNIT-ED STATESPATENT OFFICE INSULATION o'ampbeu D. cope, st. Luis, M0.

Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 263,090

(c1. zo-i)l 3 Claims.

This invention relates to insulation and this application is acontinuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 53,515, filed Dec. 9,1935.

Objects of the invention are to produce a highly efficient andrelatively inexpensive insulation of loose fireproof character that maybe poured or caused to flow into confined and inaccessible spaceswithout the necessity of providing skilled Workmen; to provide such` aninsulation composed of a mass of unattached, non-inflammable sections ofdifferent lengths, some of which `are of substantial length and arcuatein cross-section, and others comparatively short and flat incross-section, the mass also including numerous non-inflammable tubularsections of substantial length unshredded, uncrushed, and unbroken, thelength of many of said sections being such that they will engage theadjacent surfaces of spaced wall portions and partially support the massof insulation and prevent it from becoming matted, etc.; and to providean insulation comprising a large proportion of split tubes of differentlengths, and means for sustaining the mass of insulation so that it willnot become packed or compressed when placed in position for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide van improved insulationcomposed of straw or other analogous vegetable matter having a largeproportion thereof split and cut into comparatively short lengths whichare arcuate in crosssection and having another substantial proportionthereof of tubular form long enough to span between and engage theadjacent surfaces of spaced wall portions forming the walls of framebuildings, and other buildings having spaces in the walls thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should be readily apparentfrom the following description, reference being made to the annexeddrawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a wall sectionhaving my improved insulation therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view ofthe wall.

As shown in the annexed drawing, the outer wall I is separated from thelaths or parts 2 which may be coated with and support the plaster 3. Theplaster 3 has integral portions 4 extending through the spaces betweenthe laths and forming shoulders in the space between the inner and outerwalls. This space is filled with my improved insulation which is made ofstraw or analogous material. The straw or analogous material is cut orbroken or otherwise processed to form a mass of sections 5 obtained bysplitting the straw longitudinally and breaking or cutting them intorelatively short lengths. A considerable proportion of the sections 5are arcuate in cross-section and, therefore, will cooperate with theremaining smaller flat sections to form a cellular insulation.

My improved insulation also contains a large number of tubular sections6 `which are unattached, unbroken and uncrushed, and are noninammable,as is the mass 5. The tubular sections 6 are long enough to span andextend across between the outer wall` I and to engage their ends uponthe protruding portions 4 of vthe plaster, and some of said sections mayextend within the spaces 'I between the boards of the outer wall I.Thus, these tubular sections 6 are supported and sustained by theopposite wall portions included in the completed wall. The tubularsections 6 are resilient, so that they may bend considerably withoutbreaking or becoming unduly weakened. Consequently, since the insulationincludes a relatively considerable number of these supporting tubularsections at different vertical heights within the wall, all of saidsections that are engaged with opposite portions of the wall, or witheach other, will cooperate to support and sustain the insulation inloose cellular form appropriate for the attainment of best effects andresults. The two wall portions shown which are separated by anintervening space filled by the insulation represent portions of abuilding wall such as a residence or other building provided With thefinished inner plaster surface 3. The tubular sections 6 which arethoroughly mixed with the mass 5 extend in various directions inV themass, as shown. Some of these tubular sections 6 span and extend acrossthe space between the inner and outer walls and engage the opposite wallsurfaces while other tubular sections 6 extend in different directionsin the mass.

After the mixture or mass of material is cut and processed to propersize and lengths as explained, it is immersed in a solution to renderthe material non-inflammable and characterize it as a Vermifuge. Forsuch purposes, I have used Epsom salts and sodium fluoride, and I havealso used other solutions optionally to sterilize and render thematerial antiseptic and to extend its durability and lasting qualities.Boric acid may be satisfactorily used as a fire-proofing and antisepticagent.

After the material has been formed and processed in this manner, it maybe dried by mechanical methods comprising the step of agitating orstirring the material during the drying process and thereby avoidingmoulding or souring. However, the material is not processed nor agitatedwith such force as to destroy crystallization of the chemicals ordiminish the non-infiammability of the material, nor to destroy thecross-sectional arcuate form of the smaller pieces nor the tubular formof the parts 6.

After the material has been prepared in this way, it may be formed intobales or placed in packages or bags to facilitate handling and transporting, and minimizes installation costs. But it should not becompressed to such an extent as to destroy the cross-sectional arcuateor tubular forms of the different parts of the insulation.

The finished material may be poured or blown into the wall spaces. It isnot of an adhesive character, but will easily flow and pass around theobstruction, such as headers, bridging, and

other strengthening wall parts customarily used, andwillll the spaceswith approximately uniform density. Being of light weight and ofcellular form, and some of the parts being of'tubular form to supportother portions of the insulation, thev material does not settle heavilyand thus destroy orminimize its efficiency.

This material possesses many advantages' over board or quilted forms ofinsulation which cannot be inserted into and made to fill the Wallspacesol completed buildings satisfactorily. The processing. of thematerial increases its stiffness, leavingitresilient, and making it lesssubject to breakage under pressure.

This material maybe; provided1 and installed at comparatively very lowcost and without any high` degree of skill in the installation. The

composite insulation may be varied within the scope of equivalent limitsWithout departure from the nature and principle of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cellular insulation for buildings having inner and outer wallsseparated by an intervening space, comprising a mass of unattachedsubstantially non-inflammable split tubular sections of straw that arearcuate in cross-section and are resilient and are of different lengthsless than the distance between said walls.

2. A cellular insulation for buildings having inner and outer wallsseparated by an intervening space, comprising a mass of split tubularsections that are arcuate in cross-section and of varying lengths lessthan the distance between said Walls and of varying widths, and arelatively large number of tubular sections having a length to span andextend across said space between said walls and thereby engage oppositewall surfaces and partially support saidirst named'sections.`

3. A cellular insulation for" buildings having inner and outer wallsseparated by an intervening space composed of a massl of unattachednoninlammable sections of different lengths less than the distancebetween-said walls and that are ar cuate in cross-section and resilient,and a relatively large numbero tubular non-inilammable sections mixedwith said mass and having; a length suflicient to extend across saidspace and engage lfacing wall surfaces enclosing said space in which theinsulationis mounted and be supported by said surfaces, and to preventcompacting and matting `of said rst named sections.

CANIPBELL D. COPE.

